NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training

A 2-1/2 Day Spirometry Certification Course, followed in Pittsburgh by a CAOHC-Approved Hearing Conservation Workshop! Also taught semi-annually with a Respirator Fit Testing Worshop in Pittsburgh and in Fond du Lac!

"Mary has a wonderful and unique interaction with students. Her subject knowledge is
huge. Her energy level keeps students involved and alert. She can communicate with
MD's, PhD's, Nurses, Techs, and Aides equally. I believe she does not send students
from her course that cannot perform, teach, and collect high quality spirometry."
- NIOSH Audit, June 7-9, 2010

Certificates of successful completion of a NIOSH-approved spirometry course remain active for 5 years from the course date. Certification can be extended in 5 year increments by completing a NIOSH Approved Spirometry Refresher course before the current certificate expires. NIOSH also instituted a 7 month grace period to give technicians ample time to renew their NIOSH course certificates. E.g., if a current course certificate was dated April 1, 2008, the technician would have up to 5 years and 7 months to complete a NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Refresher Course, i.e., until November 1, 2013.

Course Description

This 2-1/2 day NIOSH-approved Spirometry Course is designed for healthcare professionals who conduct spirometric pulmonary function tests and/or interpret test results in industrial and clinical settings. It is one of very few NIOSH-approved courses that are approved for continuing medical education credits for physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists.

This comprehensive NIOSH spirometry course is appropriate for those with no spirometry background as well as for experienced spirometry users. Though the course assumes no prior spirometry experience or knowledge of respiratory physiology, experienced spirometry users always increase their understanding of spirometry and its results by participating in the course. The goal of this course is to teach not only what the recommendations and requirements are for conducting tests and interpreting results, but also why the recommendations and requirements were made.

Using lectures, discussion, and practice sessions, the course presents basic pulmonary pathophysiology, instrumentation requirements, performance of the spirometry test (stressing active coaching), recognition of testing errors and spirometer malfunctions, supervised use of the spirometer, measurement of the spirogram, and interpretation of results.

In the classes, Dr. Townsend draws on her extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of various spirometers, acquired through on-going consulting with a variety of clients. As she helps clients solve their spirometry problems and identify optimal spirometer configurations, Dr. Townsend obtains new information to share with her students, enabling them to work more effectively with their own equipment and to optimize their spirometry testing skills.

Over half of the class time is devoted to supervised student practice of the techniques that are presented. Individual attention is ensured by maintaining the student/instructor ratio at 6:1 or better. All lectures are given by Dr. Mary Townsend; all practice session assistants are NIOSH-approved and have extensive spirometry experience.

Class size is restricted to 24 or fewer students, to maximize student-faculty interaction and to keep the atmosphere informal and conducive to learning. Topics and presentation styles are varied to keep students interested and involved. Breaks are frequent to help students concentrate and remain focussed.

Practical and written examinations are given on the last half-day of the course, and a certificate is awarded if performance is satisfactory. NIOSH-Approved Course certificates remain active for 5 years.

* DuBois Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Pennsylvania Medical Society to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. DuBois Regional Medical Center designates this a continuing medical education activity and it awards 19.50 AMA Physicians Recognition Award Category 1 Credits and the Pennsylvania Medical Society Member CME Certification. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. Faculty participants in continuing medical education activities sponsored by DuBois Regional Medical Center are expected to disclose to the audience whether they do or do not have any real or apparent conflicts of interest or other relationships related to the content of their presentations.

in June, click on Spiro/Audio or call 1-855-914-1871 and ask for Spirometry Training Room Block of SP2;

in September, click on Spiro/Audio 3 or call 1-855-914-1871 and ask for Spirometry Training Room Block of SP3.

Pittsburgh 2015 Dates

March 23-25, 2015 * June 1-3, 2015 *

September 21-23, 2015 * November 16-18, 2015 *

*Immediately followed by a CAOHC-Approved Hearing Conservation Workshop, taught by Dr. Roger Angelelli of Audiometric Baseline Consulting. Call (412) 831-0430 for complete workshop information and to register for the course.

Baltimore Course Location

Taught collaboratively with Johns Hopkins University, this class is held at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD.

A block of guest rooms will be held at Home2Suites by Hilton, 8 E. Pleasant Street, Basltimore, MD 21202. Telephone (410) 576-1200. "Townsend Associates" room block room rate is $129/night plus tax, parking rate is $16/day. Shuttle service to the JHU School of Nursing will be provided.
Other hotels convenient to the school are listed HERE. Some other hotels also offer a Johns Hopkins room rate and shuttle service to the hospital.

Baltimore 2015 Dates

March 11-13, 2015

October 27-29, 2015

Fond du Lac, WI Course Location

Taught collaboratively with Aurora Occupational Health, this class is held at:

Class size is limited to 24, so please register early to insure availability. You may pay by check or using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards. Students are enrolled in the order in which payment and registration are received. Confirmation will be sent upon receipt of the tuition payment. Tuition is fully refunded if you cancel five or more weeks before the course date. A $50 service charge is deducted if you cancel 3-5 weeks before the course date. Since expenses are fixed, no refunds are issued if you cancel less than 3 weeks before the course date. However, you may always send an alternate in your place or, if we find a replacement for your registered class date, you may transfer to a later course.

Customized on-site courses are also available, and a minimum number of participants is usually recommended. Please call for more information: (412) 343-9946.